Playing in the pool, hitting the surf, water skiing at the lake… summer fun is here and I plan to enjoy every minute! Not to put a damper (pun intended) on the water play, but did you know that drowning does not look the way you think it might? This is such important information which is why I post it every summer.
Drowning is quiet. It is not often obvious that the person is in distress. There isn’t all the splashing we see in movies. When someone is drowning, they make very little noise or no noise at all because they are trying to breath.
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning, by marine safety specialist, Mario Vittone is a very helpful article. In it, he talks about what drowning really does look like, signs to watch out for and what to do.
“It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) — of the approximately 750 children who will drown next year, about 375 of them will do so within 25 yards of a parent or other adult. In ten percent of those drownings, the adult will actually watch them do it, having no idea it is happening…”
You really can’t take your eyes off of your kids for even a minute. Drowning victims are typically unable to speak or wave their arms for help so you must be aware of what’s going on in the water at all times.
Water safety is crucial, it takes only a few short minutes for someone to drown. Even the strongest swimmer is at risk when someone pushes him in or jumps on top of him.
Check out his article, it’s valuable information we can all need to know, particularly this time of year. Please share this post on Facebook & Twitter, Pin it & forward it to everyone you know who has kids, keep them safe this summer!
